THE widow of former Orlando Pirates head of security Ali Hlongwane is accusing the PSL defending champions of not playing a fair game with her.

Hlongwane died of sugar diabetes at the age of 59 in February last year and was interred at Lenasia cemetery, south of Jozi.

After his funeral, Ali's wife Priscilla Hlongwane went to the club's headquarters in Parktown, Jozi to claim his pension fund.

But to her shock and chagrin, she was told that though Hlongwane worked for the club for 10 years, he was not permanent and that the club did not register him with their pension scheme.

In an exclusive interview with Sunday World on Thursday, Priscilla - who intermittently broke down while relating the matter - says the club gave her R10000 to bury her husband because she did not have sufficient funds to do so.

She says when she got to Parktown she was referred to financial manager Darryl Joselowsky, who told her Hlongwane was not a permanent employee of the club.

"I asked him how it was possible that they could have someone in their employ for 10 years without registering them with their pension scheme and he told me my husband also worked for Bafana Bafana," she says.

She says she sent Joselowsky an SMS the following day asking for her husband's IRP5 forms.

Joselowsky replied: "As mentioned to you when we met, as Ali was doing security work for both Orlando Pirates and Safa at one stage, he was not a permanent employee at Orlando Pirates.

"Thus no IRP5 was issued.

"He was also earning below the threshold for any tax to be deducted. Pls call if you need any further information or explanation."

Priscilla says she learnt afterwards that her husband was earning a shocking R2500 a month.

"After devoting his life to Pirates, is this how he is thanked?" she asks.

Priscilla says she has been trying to speak to club chairman Irvin Khoza but Joselowsky is obstructing her.

"My husband's two kids from a previous relationship now hate me because they think I got the money and misused it.

"My husband died in February and I'm supposed to erect a tombstone for him this month but I don't have a cent.

"I also go to bed on an empty stomach sometimes," she says.

Priscilla says her husband's car, which she has been using to run her small takeaway business, is being stripped and sold by the mechanic to defray expenses as she does not have money to pay him.

Khoza says: "Mr Hlongwane was not employed permanently but we felt morally obligated to contribute towards his funeral."